Sheet perforating apparatus

Abstract

A sheet perforating apparatus includes a punch unit configured to punch holes in a sheet from an image processing apparatus. A dust box is below the punch unit and detachably attached to a case. A lid member is attached to the dust box and is displaceable between a closed state, in which the lid member closes an opening of the dust box, and an open state, in which the lid member does not close the opening of the dust box. When in the open state, the lid member is electrically grounded to weaken static electricity of punch chips dropped from the punch unit to the lid member and directs the punch chips towards the opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A sheet perforating apparatus, comprising:
 a punch unit configured to punch holes in a sheet from an image processing apparatus; 
 a dust box below the punch unit and detachably attached to a case; 
 a lid member attached to the dust box, the lid member being displaceable between a closed state in which the lid member closes an opening of the dust box and an open state in which the lid member does not close the opening of the dust box, the lid member having an inner surface side that faces towards the dust box when in the closed state and faces away from the dust box when in the open state, and when in the open state, the lid member is electrically grounded and directs punch chips that have been dropped from the punch unit towards the opening; and 
 an opening and closing unit configured to displace the lid member from the closed state to the open state when the dust box is inserted into the image forming apparatus and to displace the lid member from the open state to the closed state when the dust box is removed from the image forming apparatus, wherein 
 the opening and closing unit includes:
 a groove section formed in the case at an incline with respect to an installation direction for the dust box; and 
 an opening and closing device on the dust box and connected to the lid member, the opening and closing device configured to engage the groove section and move up and down on the dust box according to movement of the dust box along the groove section and displace the lid member from the closed state to the open state or the open state to the closed state when the dust box is inserted or removed from the case. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The sheet perforating apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the lid member comprises an electrically conductive material and electrically connects to a conductive connecting section contacting the case when the lid member is in the open state. 
     
     
       3. The sheet perforating apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a static-electricity weakening sheet attached to inner surface side of the lid member to face towards the punch unit when the lid member is in the open state. 
 
     
     
       4. The sheet perforating apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening and closing device includes a push-up member configured to push the lid member open when the dust box is inserted in the case. 
     
     
       5. The sheet perforating apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening and closing device includes a cam configured to turn and push the lid member open when the dust box is inserted in the case. 
     
     
       6. The sheet perforating apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening and closing device includes a string element configured to pull the lid member closed when the dust box is removed from the case. 
     
     
       7. The sheet perforating apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a first edge portion of the lid member is attached to the dust box and a second edge portion of the lid member displaces upward and downward when the dust box is inserted and removed from the case, and 
 the second end portion is thicker, in a direction orthogonal to a plane including the first and second edge portions, than the first edge portion. 
 
     
     
       8. The sheet perforating apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the lid member is inclined with respect to the opening when in the open state, and 
 the punch chips that have been dropped from the punch unit contact an inner surface of the lid member when in the open state. 
 
     
     
       9. The sheet perforating apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the lid member is metal, and 
 the case is electrically grounded. 
 
     
     
       10. A sheet post-processing apparatus, comprising:
 a case that is electrically grounded; 
 a sheet perforating apparatus in the case and comprising:
 a punch unit configured to punch holes in a sheet received from an image processing apparatus; 
 a dust box below the punch unit and detachably attached to the case; 
 a lid member attached to the dust box, the lid member being displaceable between a closed state in which the lid member closes an opening of the dust box and an open state in which the lid member does not close the opening of the dust box, the lid member having an inner surface side that faces towards the dust box when in the closed state and faces away from the dust box when in the open state, and when in the open state, the lid member is electrically grounded via an electrical connection to the case and directs punch chips that have been dropped from the punch unit towards the opening; and 
 
 a groove section formed in the case at an incline with respect to an installation direction for the dust box; and 
 an opening and closing device on the dust box and connected to the lid member, wherein 
 the opening and closing device is configured to engage the groove section and move up and down on the dust box according to movement of the dust box along the groove section and displace the lid member from the closed state to the open state or the open state to the closed state when the dust box is inserted or removed from the case. 
 
     
     
       11. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 an opening and closing unit configured to displace the lid member from the closed state to the open state when the dust box is inserted into the case and to displace the lid member from the open state to the closed state when the dust box is removed from the case. 
 
     
     
       12. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a string element configured to pull the lid member closed when the dust box is removed from the case. 
 
     
     
       13. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a static-electricity weakening sheet attached to the lid member to face the punch unit when the lid member is in the open state within the case. 
 
     
     
       14. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein a centerline of the dust box is offset from a centerline of the punch unit when the dust box is installed in the case and the lid member is positioned below the centerline of the punch unit when in the open state. 
     
     
       15. An image processing apparatus, comprising:
 a printer unit that outputs a sheet of paper; 
 a case that is electrically grounded; 
 a sheet perforating apparatus in the case and including:
 a punch unit configured to punch holes in the sheet of paper from the printer unit; 
 a dust box below the punch unit and detachably attached to the case; and 
 a lid member attached to the dust box, the lid member being displaceable between a closed state in which the lid member closes an opening of the dust box and an open state in which the lid member does not close the opening of the dust box, the lid member having an inner surface side that faces towards the dust box when in the closed state and faces away from the dust box when in the open state, and when in the open state, the lid member is electrically grounded and directs punch chips that have been dropped from the punch unit towards the opening; and 
 
 a groove section formed in the case at an incline with respect to an installation direction for the dust box; and 
 an opening and closing device on the dust box and connected to the lid member, wherein 
 the opening and closing device is configured to engage the groove section and move up and down on the dust box according to movement of the dust box along the groove section and displace the lid member from the closed state to the open state or the open state to the closed state when the dust box is inserted or removed from the case. 
 
     
     
       16. The image processing apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a static-electricity weakening sheet attached to the lid member to face the punch unit when the lid member is in the open state within the case. 
 
     
     
       17. The image processing apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein a centerline of the dust box is offset from a centerline of the punch unit when the dust box is installed in the case and the lid member is positioned below the centerline of the punch unit when in the open state. 
     
     
       18. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the opening and closing device includes a cam configured to turn and push the lid member open when the dust box is inserted in the case. 
     
     
       19. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the opening and closing device includes a string element configured to pull the lid member closed when the dust box is removed from the case. 
     
     
       20. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein
 the lid member is inclined with respect to the opening when in the open state, and 
 the punch chips that have been dropped from the punch unit contact an inner surface of the lid member when in the open state.